elias rizo arquitectos clads casa gg with polished steel

elias rizo arquitectos clads casa gg with polished steel
image © marcos garcia
all images courtesy of elias rizo arquitectos

 under the graceful expression of a concrete-cast butterfly roof ‘casa gg’ sits respectfully atop a small green plateau in a natural clearing that boasts a rugged terrain of hills and valleys framing the colima volcano in the distance. designed by mexican studio elias rizo arquitectos, the structure accommodates  two bedrooms, a master suite, office, and open living/dining/kitchen area enjoying a series of semi-private decks. entry to the begins at the highest point of the site where a driveway descends the sloping terrain and terminates into a carport nestled into the hillside. a progression of staggering precast pavers establishes a strict datum underling the long axis of the home, reflected in a polished steel wall that makes up the front facade. a window and a deeper void framing the front door in stained cedar panels are the only elements that break up the monolithic nature of the glassy metal wall designed to transform into a rusted plane whose orange tones complement the natural reds of the native soil.

image © marcos garcia

once inside, a constricted foyer flanked by full glass panes gives way to immediate views of the expansive landscape beyond, inviting visitors onto the exterior deck. the entry also bisects the two primary uses of the house, maintaining the private areas to the north and the social areas on the south. as in section, the plan at this point is also at its narrowest, opening up towards either end. the living and dining room enjoys a large open space with two expansive retractable sections of fenestration that almost encase the entire perimeter. each glass wall leads to an exterior space, either a large covered deck facing south or the elongated semi-open veranda to the north. the space sits between a polished concrete floor and rugged cast-in-place canopy accented by the continuation of the exterior wooden walls into the interior.

image © marcos garcia

crossing the foyer to the north end of the home, a single hallway provides access to a pair of mirrored bedrooms with private bathrooms, a small office and the master suite which expands to occupy the entire width of the house. large windows extend views to the natural surroundings and further support the home’s motif of reflection, both hiding behind its mirrored representation of its surroundings as it does emerge as an introduced structure in an vegetated landscape.

large deck opens to the south of the site
image © marcos garcia

entry facade consists of polished steel sheets forming a rigidly opaque wall
image © marcos garcia

from the lower end of the site, the reflecting facades display the sky above
image © marcos garcia

an elongated side deck connects the entry and living areas
image © marcos garcia

entry walkway from the garage structure
image © marcos garcia

main entrance
image © marcos garcia

master suite
image © marcos garcia

living, dining, and kitchen surrounded by retractable glass walls
image © marcos garcia

image © marcos garcia

image © marcos garcia

image © marcos garcia

image © marcos garcia

site plan

floor plan / level 0

project info:

location: tapalpa, jalisco, méxico.
completion: 2015
area: 420 m2
photography: marcos garcía
architecture: elías rizo arquitectos- elías rizo suárez, alejandro rizo suárez
collaborators: carlos miramontes, jenny mora, jenny camarena, paola hernández, alma osnaya, gabriela chávez, andrea zúñiga, roberto contreras, rodrigo ortega, daniela valdez, diana reséndiz, lourdes rodríguez, maripily roel, isaac mora, ma. fernanda peña, sofía valenzuela, héctor guardado